Locking device



March 1955 J. KLEINEMEIER 2,704,684

LOCKING DEVICE Filed July 20. 1950 INVENTOR. John Klememeaer Sade/#41260. M

United States Patent LOCKING DEVICE John Kleinemeier, Aurora, 111. Application July 20, 1950, Serial No. 174,980

3 Claims. (Cl. 292-268) This invention relates to a locking device as for doors or the like, and more particularly has reference to a lock mechanism which may be adjusted either to an extensible locking position or to a stationary locking pos tion, the mechanism being adjustable for automatic selection of the desired position.

The conventional locking position for a door 18 a stationary one wherein a bolt or other pro ecting element from the door is rigidly confined in a complementary recess provided for that purpose within the door This is sometimes called a night lock. In this position, the door cannot be moved away from the door amb until the projecting element is withdrawn. Another desirable type of lock for a door is one which permits the door to be opened only to a limited extent to permit ventilation, scrutiny of callers, and other purposes. This type of lock generally includes an extensible bar which engages a projecting member from the door, or other similar devices. This type of locking position is often referred to as a safety lock.

The present invention provides an improved form of a locking mechanism which includes a night lock position and a safety lock position together with means for selecting either locking position.

It is an object of the invention to provide such a combination locking mechanism which is easily and instantly adjusted for automatic selection of the desired locking position.

It is a further object of the invention to provide means for automatically selecting the desired locking position.

It is another object of the invention to provide a selecting means which when adjusted permits the locking operation of a door to be the same irrespective of the particular locking position which is desired.

It is a further object of the invention to provide such a combination locking mechanism which is conveniently and efiiciently operated.

Further objects and advantages will appear in the following description and the accompanying drawing, in which- Fig. 1 is a fragmentary elevational view of portions of a door and a door jamb illustrating the locking mechanism embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the locking mechamsm showing an extensible arm in an extended position;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the locking mechanism as used in a safety lock position;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the locking mechanism as used in a night lock position; and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the locking mechanism showing a modified form of the selecting means.

In the specific embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, the locking mechanism is suitably recessed in door jamb 11. The locking mechanism is intended for use with a projecting locking element such as door bolt assembly 12 conventionally secured in door 13. The door bolt may be of the well known type having a rack and pinion action which projects bolt member 14 from the surface of the edge of the door and into the recess provided for its reception in door jamb 11.

The locking mechanism 10 as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 comprises a housing 16 which may be in the form of a case or box having an outer wall 17 and an inner wall 18, together with suitable end enclosures. When the locking mechanism is secured to door jamb 11, the outer wall 17 is adjacent to the edge of door 13 and in line with 2,704,684 Patented Mar. 22, 1955 the surface of the door jamb. A channel 19 is provided in outer wall 17 directly opposite bolt member 14, the channel being of suitable shape and size to permit bolt member 14 to enter the housing 16. The channel 19 is open in the direction of travel of the door when it is being opened, thereby preventing any restriction or confinement of bolt member 14 by the outer wall 17 when the bolt member has been extended into the housing.

In the inner wall 18 opposite channel 19, and in alignment with the bolt member, is provided opening 21. This opening is of suitable size and shape to receive bolt member 14 when the latter has been projected into housing 16.

The opening 21 is adapted to confine the bolt member in a stationary position, thus enabling the door to be secured in the night lock position as hereinafter described more fully.

A swinging arm 22 is pivotably secured within housing 16 by suitable means as by pin 23 which engages walls 17 and 18. As thus secured, the swinging arm 22 is normally positioned entirely within housing 16 but is capable of being extended to an outward and horizontal position as shown in Fig. 2. The swinging arm 22 defines a longitudinal slot 24 which is of sutficient width to receive and engage the end of bolt member 14. An inner or upper slot portion 25, which is in alignment with channel 19 and opening 21 when the arm 22 is positioned within the housing, is of slightly larger width than the remainder of the slot. Such slot portion 25 facilitates reception of bolt member 14 by the slot when the locking mechanism is in safety lock position or to permit projection of bolt member 14 into opening 21 when the locking mechanism is adjusted to night lock position.

Secure engagement of the bolt member 14 with slot 24 is assumed by providing the end of bolt member 14 with a transverse groove 26. The use of groove 26 enables the width of slot 24 to be less than the diameter of the non-grooved portion of bolt member 14 although such narrowing of the slot width must necessarily be no greater than the depth of the groove 26.

By this construction, when the bolt member 14 is projected into the housing 16 to the point where the groove 26 is directly within enlarged portion 25 of the slot 22, movement of the door outwardly will cause the groove to be directed into slot 24. This is the safety lock position of the locking mechanism. Further movement of the door outwardly will cause the bolt member 14 to pass out of the housing 16 through channel 19 of the outer wall and will cause swinging arm 22 to be pivoted upwardly and outwardly as the bolt member passes through the slot. The door may then be opened to the extent of the length of the slot but is secured against further movement by the engagement of groove 26 within the slot 24. When the door is shut in the safety lock position the swinging arm 22 is forced downwardly and inwardly by movement of the bolt member along the slot. When the bolt member has reached enlarged portion 25 of the slot, the arm 22 has been forced into its position within the housing 16. Upon reaching enlarged portion 25 the bolt member 14 is free to be withdrawn into door 13 or to be projected further within housing 16.

For convenient and eflicient operation of the locking mechanism in the safety lock position, it is desirable that the edges of slot 24 be formed with bevel 27. The general shape and size of bevel 27 is dependent somewhat upon the shape and depth of the groove 26 of the bolt member. One of the advantages of the use of the bevel results from the fact that as the door is being opened the swinging arm is pulled slightly towards the door as the bolt member passes along the slot 24. This is because the edge of the door is describing a short are, the radius of which is the width of the door. By providing a bevel 27 on the edge of slot 24, binding is prevented without lessening the secure engagement of the bolt member and the extensible arm.

With swinging arm 22 positioned within the housing 16, bolt member 14 is free to be projected into opening 21 of the inner wall 18. When the bolt member is engaged in opening 21, it is confined in a stationary position; this is the night lock position of the locking mechanism. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, opening 21 is in part defined by bar 28 which is secured to wall 18. With bolt member 14 extended into opening 21, the bar 28 acts as a barrier to prevent movement of the bolt out of the housing when the door is forced outwardly.

The locking positions of the door mechanism which have thus been described enable the door either to be locked in a stationary position so that it cannot be opened even slightly or to be locked in an extensible position so that it may be opened only to a predetermined extent. An important feature of the invention is the provision of means which provides automatic selection of the desired locking position. Use of such selecting means makes it possible for the bolt to be projected in the same manner irrespective of the locking position which is to be effected. The selector utilized in the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings is primarily an aligning means which functions by interposing a barrier to the travel of the bolt member 14 as it is being projected into the housing. By stopping the movement of the bolt member when groove 26 is within slot portion 25, an alignment is automatically effected between the groove and slot 24 so that engagement of bolt member 14 with swinging arm 22 is insured; the locking mechanism is thus adjusted to the safety lock position. By removing the barrier which aligns groove 26 with slot 24, the bolt member 14 is free to be extended further Within the housing and into opening 21 Where it is confined in the night lock position by edge 29 of the bar 28.

The aligning means 31 illustrated in Fig. 2 comprises a key 32 pivotally secured to the housing adjacent opening 21 as by pin 33. To facilitate pivoting of the key within the confines of the housing, the portion 34 of the key near the opening 21 may be curved. The end of key 32 furthest from the opening 21 provides a trigger 36 which is accessible to the outside of housing 16. As shown in Fig. 2, when the trigger 36 is placed downwardly the barrier portion 34 is moved upwardly and across opening 21 thereby providing a barrier or stop to travel of the bolt member 14 into the housing. When thus barred at this point by aligning means 31, the bolt member 14 is positioned so that its groove 26 is aligned with a slot 24, automatically assuring that the locking mechanism is in safety lock position.

When trigger portion 36 is moved upwardly, barrier portion 34 of the key 32 is moved downwardly and away from opening 21. With aligning means 31 thus adjusted, projection of bolt member 14 into the housing causes it to travel into opening 21 where it is confined by the bar 28, thereby assuring that the locking mechanism is in night lock position.

An advantage of the locking mechanism described is that the locking position may be changed while the door remains locked in one or the other positions. Thus, the bolt may be withdrawn from the night lock position to the safety position by withdrawing it until groove 26 is aligned with slot 24. Conversely, the lock may be changed to the night lock position by merely projecting bolt member 14 further within the housing.

In the modified form of the selecting means as shown in Fig. 5, the key 37, secured by pin 38, is pivoted by the movement of plunger 39, the plunger being provided with a suitably formed recess 41 which entraps and moves the lower end of the key. As shown, when the plunger is pushed in, the upper end of the key bars the travel of the bolt member 14 and aligns the groove 26 with the slot 24 for the safety lock position. When the plunger is withdrawn or pulled outwardly from the housing, the upper end of the key 37 is moved away from opening 21, thereby permitting the bolt to be projected into the opening 21 where it is confined in the night lock position.

Of the two specific aligning means described herein, the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 2 is of simpler construction. It will be understood that this embodiment as well as that shown in Fig. 5 may be modified for achievement of the advantages which have been herein described without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The detailed description has been given for purposes of illustration and the invention is to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a locking device for use with a longitudinally moveable bolt member, a swinging arm with a longitudinal slot therein for reception of a bolt member, said slot having its longitudinal edges beveled, and a moveable selecting means adapted to interpose a barrier against the free longitudinal movement of said bolt member whereby said member is positioned for reception by the slot of said arm.

2. A locking device for use with a longitudinally moveable bolt member, said device comprising a housing having an opening in its inner wall for reception of the bolt member, an arm capable of being extended outwardly from said housing and having an opening therein for reception of the bolt member, and in association with said housing a selecting means pivotable into first position to limit the longitudinal movement of saidbolt member for extensible engagement with the opening of said arm and pivotable into second position to permit extended longitudinal movement of said bolt member for its reception by and stationary engagement with the opening of said housing.

3. In a locking device for use with a bolt member having a transverse groove therein, a swinging arm with a longitudinal slot therein, said slot having a bevel along its longitudinal edge for engagement with the groove of said bolt member, and moveable aligning means adapted to limit the movement of the bolt member so that the groove of said bolt member is in alignment with the slot of said arm.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

